世界各国

Saint Helena

Introductiony to Saint Helena

Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station.

Government

Capital:

Jamestown 

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) 

Economy

Economy overview:

The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK. 

GDP:

purchasing power parity -$18 million (1998 est.) 

Agriculture products:

corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha) 

Industries:

construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing 

Transportation

Highways:

total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km)
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown

Airports:

1 (2003 est.)